Coal-washing apparatus.



E. G. BURKS & N. HAYES. COAL WASHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY3, 1914.

1,1 32,433. Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHBET 1.

m u 4 ama THE NORRIS PETERS ca. PHOTC-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

E. G. BURKS & N. HAYES. GOAL WASHING APPARATUs.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1914.

1,1 32,433, Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IHF. NORRIS PETERS 60., PHDTO-LITHD., WASHINGTON, D. C.

EUGENE .G. BURKS AND NEENIAN HAYES, 0F

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

COAL-WASHING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

Application filed July 3, 1914. Serial No. 848,985.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EUGENE G. BURKS and Nnnnnm HAYES, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of J efi'erson andState of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvernents inCoal-Washing Apparatus; and we do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The present invention relates to coal washing apparatus, and consistsmore particularly of an apparatus for recovering values held insuspension in the wash water with which the coal, ores and the like aretreated to cleanse the same.

The present invention further relates to apparatus of the type set forthin our allowed applicationberial No. 7 95,302, filed October 15, 1913,entitled coal washing apparatus; and it is to be understood that thepresent apparatus may be employed to replace the apparatus described inour above prior application, and receive the wash water directly fromthe jigs or other apparatus; or the same may be used in conjunction withour prior construction to receive the wash water therefrom and subjectthe same to a further treatment to recover such values as remainsuspended in the wash water.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of theabove character wherein wash water may be introduced to the settlingtank at a variety of different points, in order to prevent unevendeposit of the material in the tank out of the path of the elevator bywhich the same is removed.

Another object of the invention cons1sts in providing apparatus as aboveindicated,

7 wherein the wash water is introduced in a manner to prevent undueagitation of the liquid in the settling tank, and thereby preventinterference with the progress of the deposition.

A further object of the invention resides in providing in the settlingapparatus a stand-pipe provided with a series of valvecontrolled outletsthrough which the clear liquid above-the deposit may be successivelydrawn off and utilized over again in the jigs or other apparatus, ordischarged into the usual stream where the same is carried away.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafterdisclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and inwhich similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in theseveral views: Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus made inaccordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a central verticalsection of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1, parts being broken away. Fig. a is a sectional View of a Fig. 5is an end elevation of the same taken at right angles to Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein one embodiment ofthe apparatus is illustrated, 1 and 2 designate, respectively, side andend walls assembled on a bottom 3 to constitute a tank which is suitablymounted on a supporting structure 1. The walls 1 and 2 are preferablyinclined, asshown, to form a hopper-shaped tank, in which the wash wateris introduced and permitted to remain until the material in suspensionhas been deposited to the bottom thereof, whence the same is removedcontinuously or from time to time, as required, by a suitable elevator5, here shown to be of the endless conveyer type.

Projecting from opposite side walls 1 of the tank are a pair ofpartitions 6 and 7, extending parallel and in proximity to one end wall2, and forming with thesame a pair of inlet compartments 8 and 9. Eachcompartment 8 and 9 is provided with a pair or more of inclined baffleplates 10 and 11, projecting in staggered relation, respectively, fromthe respective partitions 6 and 7 and the end wall 2 of the tank.

detail; and

The wash water is conveyed to the settling tank by means of asluice-way12, extending across thetank and arranged above the .inletchambers 8 and 9. The sluice-way 12 is provided with a plurality ofdischarges, here shown to be three in number, the end discharges 13 and1 1 of which are preferably arranged adjacent. each opposite side wall1, and are provided each with-a spout 15 and 16 to direct the wash waterinto the compartments 8 and 9, respectively. Passage of washwaterthrough the discharges is controlled by means of gates or other suitablevalves 17 and 18, which may be provided with suitable operating means.

A central discharge 19, controlled by a suitable gate 20, is arranged toconnect with an apron 21 extending approximately to the center of thesettling tank, and may be provided with a bottom formed of a downwardlyinclined portion 22, terminating in a portion 23 upwardly inclinedtherefrom. The inclination 22 induces flow of the wash water into theapron 21 when the gate 20 is opened and the end portion 23 is arrangedto check the force of the wash water before delivering the same to avertical zigzag trough. The Zigzag trough is composed of two sections 2&and 25, secured together substantially at right angles, and supportedbetween the inner ends of the partitions 6 and 7 and the adjacent endwall 2 of the tank.

' As disclosed to advantage in Fig. 2, the section 24 is provided with avertically-disposed end 26, and the bottom of the trough is arranged toprovide a constricted channel with the end portion 23 of the apron,

whereby the wash water may be prevented from entering the settling tankin too great volume. The section 25 is, as shown, preferably relativelyshort, and terminates substantially centrally of the tank above theelevator 5.

A stand-pipe is erected in the settling tank to one side of theelevator, as shown, and the same is built up of a number of sections 27,provided each, at opposite ends, with meeting flanges 28, whereby thesame may be secured together to form the standpipe. Each section 27 ofthe stand-pipe is provided, preferably centrally thereof, with a rightangularly disposed inlet 29, faced off to provide a seat against which aflap valve 30 is arranged to close.

As disclosed to better advantage in Figs. 4 and 5, each flap valve 30 ispivoted to a collar 31, clamped about each section 27 of the stand-pipe,and arranged to be operated by rodsor valve stems 32 mounted for areciprocating movement in the partition 6 and end wall 2. Each rod 32has its inner end received and pivoted between a pair of ears 32projecting from each of the valves 30. By moving the rods 32 the valves30 may be opened when desired, and the liquid drained off through thestand-pipe. It is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to theconnection shown in Figs. 4: and 5, as any suitable connection may beemployed between the valve rods 32 and the valves 30.

In operation the wash water, either directly from the jigs, or fromapparatus similar to that set out in our prior application, is conveyedby means of the sluice-way 12 to the settling tank, into which the sameis introduced generally through the central discharge 19 in a volumecontrollable through the gate 20. The wash water passing through thedischarge l9 enters the apron 21, where increased flow is induced by thedownwardly inclining portion 22. This flow is. however, checked by theupwardly inclined end 23, the latter directly delivering the wash waterto the section 21 of the zigzag trough. Flowing down between the bottomwall of the section 24 and the end of the apron, in a reduced volume,the wash water impinges against the extended bottom of thetrough-section 25, where the force ofthe same is again broken, and fromwhich point the wash water flows down the relatively short section 25into the settling tank, where it is received with a minimum disturbanceto the surrounding liquid.

It has been found that where the wash water is introduced continuouslyat one point, the deposit at the bottom of the tank is affected therebyto collect unevenly at the bottom of the tank, and in some cases out ofthe path of the elevator. In order to overcome this disadvantage, it isdesirable from time to time, to change the inlet of the wash water, andto this end the valve 20 may be closed, and either or both valves 17 and18 may be opened to permit the wash water to pass out through thedischarges 13 and 14:, whence the same is delivered over the spouts l5and 16 to the inlet chambers 8 and 9, respectively. The wash waterflowing from the spouts 15 is directed against the upper portion of therespective partition, and is directed therefrom down to the battle plate10, which, in turn, directs the liquid against the end wall 2 of thetank. In further descent the water encounters the inclined battle plates11, whereby it is directed against the lower end of the partitions, thebafiie platesll and the partition forming a constricted passage, throughwhich the liquid issues in a relatively quiet stream and passes beneaththe lower edge of the same and into the settling tank.

When it is desired to clean tank, the valves 17, 18 and 20 may be closedto prevent further entrance of the wash water, and after suflicient timehas elapsed for a thorough precipitation of all suspended matter, thevalve 33, at the highest elevation on the stand-pipe, may be opened bydrawing the respective rod 32 outwardly. The clear liquid thereuponpasses through the outlet 29 and down through the standpipe, by whichthe same may be conveyed to a reservoir for re-use, or may be directedinto the usual stream. When the level in the settling tank has beenreduced below that of the highest valve, the next in series may beoperated in a similar manner, and similarly the other valves may beoperated in succession to drain off the clear liquid above the deposit,which is then removed, as far as possible, by means of the elevator 5.The tank is then flushed in the usual way and otherwise cleaned.

the settling It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of our invention, and therefore We do not Wish to be limitedto such features except as may be required by the claims.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for recovering values from wash water, thecombination of a settling tank, a partition mounted in said tank andproviding an inlet chamber therein, a tortuous trough arrangedin saidsettling tank to one side of said partition, a sluice- Way for conveyingwash water extending above said tank, and a plurality of dischargesleading from said sluice-way and arranged to deliver the wash water oneto said inlet chamber and another to said tortuous trough, substantiallyas described.

2. In an apparatus for recovering values from wash Water, thecombination of a settling tank, a partition mounted in said settlingtank and providing an inlet compartment therein, a plurality of baflleplates arranged in staggered relation in said inlet chamber, a tortuoustrough arranged in said tank to one side of said inlet compartment, asluice-way for conveying wash water, and a plurality of dischargesleading from said sluice-way and arranged to deliver the wash water oneto said inlet compartment and one to the tortuous trough, substantiallyas described.

3. In an apparatus for recovering values from wash water, thecombination ofa settling tank, a pair of partitions mounted in said tankand providing a pair of adjoining inlet compartments, a tortuous trougharranged in said tank between said inlet chambers, a sluice-way forconveying wash water extending across said tank and arranged above saidinlet chambers, and a plurality of discharges leading from saidsluice-way and arranged to deliver wash water one for each of said inletchambers and one for said tortuous trough, substantially as described.4. In an apparatus for recovering values from wash water, thecombination of a settling tank, a partition mounted in said settlingtank and providing an inlet compartment therein, a tortuous troughmounted in said settling tank to one side of said partition, asluice-way for conveying wash water, a plurality of discharges leadingfrom said sluice-way and arranged to deliver the wash water to saidinlet compartments and said tortuous trough, a stand-pipe erected insaid tank and provided with a series of outlets, and valves forcontrolling the passage of wash water to said outlets, substantially asdescribed.

' 5. In an apparatus for recovering values from wash water, thecombination of a settling tank, a stand-pipe erected in said settlingtank and provided with a plurality of outlets arranged at difierentelevations,

valves for controlling the passage of wash water to said outlets, a pairof partitions mounted in said settling tank and providing a pair ofadjoining inlet compartments therein, a tortuous trough mounted betweensaid compartments, a sluice-way for conveying wash water, and aplurality of discharges leading from said sluice-way and arranged todeliver wash water one to each of said inlet compartments and one tosaid tortuous trough, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, we affix our signatures, in presence of twowitnesses.

EUGENE G. BURKS. NEENIAN HAYES.

Witnesses:

J. 'C. ALMON,

SAM FOLEY.

Copies of this patent may bembtained for five cents each, byaddressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

